South Africans woke up on Monday morning to the sad news that national soccer team captain and maverick Orlando Pirates goalie Senzo Meyiwa had been killed.Meyiwa died in a shooting incident in Vosloorus in the East Rand, near Johannesburg.Media reports suggest that Meyiwa was attacked at the house of his famous Afro Pop singer girlfriend during an alleged house robbery by three men.Meyiwa had the brightest futures but it was all taken away from him in a very tragic way that also robbed South Africa of one of the most adored sportsmen.

The Big BreakBorn 27 years ago in Umlazi, Durban, Meyiwa got his biggest career break at the ripe age of 17 when he was promoted to the Orlando Pirates senior team. This was after he had spent a few years in the development academy. He was only 13 when he joined the Buccaneers feeder team Yebo Yes.His big break came after one of the senior goalkeepers was injured and former mentor Kosta Papic did not hesitate to throw him in the fray. He made his debut on November 6 2006 against AmaZulu. It wasn’t a dream start he had hoped for as he got injured in that match.He, however, made his presence felt in 2007 under the tutelage of Owen da Gama when he started to feature more prominently. The stage had been set as Bafana Bafana’s captain was now grabbing back page headlines.The Champions League Penalty StalwartMeyiwa’s tributes have been coming from all over the world and many Africans remember him for being the eccentric goalkeeper who shone for Pirates in the much televised 2013 CAF Champions League.Meyiwa saved two second half penalties against cash rich DRC outfit and former continental champions TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi. That famous feat got soccer analysts tipping him as the future national team goalkeeper. They were right.Taking Charge Of New Bafana BafanaOne of his biggest impacts in the game came this year at the prime of his career after he was chosen by new national team coach Shakes Mashaba as the new Bafana captain. He paid off Mashaba’s faith by keeping Bafana top of their Morocco 2015 qualifying group.Under Meyiwa’s on pitch guidance, Bafana defeated emerging African side Sudan in Khartoum in their first match. They went on to draw against reigning champions Nigeria in Cape Town before defeating Congo-Brazzaville.Records Tumbled Like Cheap ChangeMeyiwaplayed seven times for Bafana Bafana captaining them four times.He conceded just one goal – scored by Australian Tim Cahill in a friendly match earlier this year (26 May 2014) in Australia.Senzo also played in the u17, U20 and U23 national teams of South Africa.Fact FileFull Names: Senzo MeyiwaDate Of Birth: 24 September 1987Clubs: Orlando PiratesNational Team Caps: SevenThings You Didnt Know: Played as a striker aged nine for London Cosmos : Played for KZN in the Coca Cola Under 17 tournament : Made his Bafana debut in 2013 against Lesotho : Was part of the Pirates team that completed the double trebleMay his soul rest in eternal peace.